Previewing starts by looking at the basic details of an image or a multimodal text and paying attention to first impressions. The following questions will help you as you preview.
What strikes you right away? What do you notice that surprises, intrigues, or puzzles you about the text? What is the overall effect of the text?
What kind of text is it: An advertisement? A photograph? A video? A podcast?
What is the text’s purpose: To persuade? To inform? To entertain? If the text is an advertisement, what product or idea is it selling?
Who is the target audience? What assumptions are made about the audience?
Where was the text originally published or viewed?